Pesticide use in United States
United States: Pesticide use was 429,501 tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Pesticide use in United States, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pesticide use in United States is 429,501 tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pesticide use in United States peaked at 457,385 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 358,338 tonnes, in 2009.
That places United States 2nd out of 211 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Pesticide use in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 400,522 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 395,079 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 401,883 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 390,543 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 425,923 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 423,202 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 433,180 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 431,819 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 424,562 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 433,634 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 430,005 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 411,408 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 413,313 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 407,053 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 418,030 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 409,730 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 392,811 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 400,068 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 379,203 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 358,338 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 374,818 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 391,299 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 407,779 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 418,674 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 413,135 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 423,475 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 451,667 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 449,713 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 457,385 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 444,240 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 439,593 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 438,087 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 427,232 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 429,501 tonnes | +0.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 429,501 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,224 tonnes, 350.9× the median. (73 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 416,035 tonnes | 390,543 tonnes | 433,634 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 401,996 tonnes | 358,338 tonnes | 430,005 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 423,218 tonnes | 374,818 tonnes | 457,385 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 433,603 tonnes | 427,232 tonnes | 439,593 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pesticide use in United States?
- Pesticide use in United States was 429,501 tonnes in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest pesticide use recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 457,385 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest pesticide use recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 358,338 tonnes in 2009.
- How does United States rank for pesticide use?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pesticide use rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Pesticide use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total pesticide use measured in tonnes of pesticide consumption per year.